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Stem Anatomy of Turfgrass¹

Stem anatomy of 20 cultivars or selections of turfgrass genera Cynodon. Zoysia, Agrostis, Poa, Stenotaphrum, Festuca, and Digitaria was compared. Studies were undertaken to discover possible relationships between stem anatomy and induction of vegetative mutations, selection of wear-resistant turf, potential thatch problems, and identification of cultivars and hybrids. A definite separation into cortex and pith regions by a band of fibers, the fiberond, was found in transverse sections of the mature internode. Three types of stems were distinguished: 1) single ring—a single ring of major vascular bundles was embedded in the fiberond (bluegrass, bentgrass, fescue); 2) multiple rings—A ring of minor bundles was in the periphery of the fiberond, a ring of major bundles was embedded in or connected to the fiberond, a third ring of major bundles was deeper in the pith (bermudagrass, pangolagrass, Japanese lawngrass); 3) complex rings—minor bundles lie in the cortex, major bundles are embedded in the fiberond and disposed throughout the pith (St. Augustinegrass). Two types of nodes were observed, simple and compound. The compound node differed from the simple by the presence of three, occasionally two or four, leaves and two lateral buds (bermudagrass, St. Augustine, Japanese lawngrass). Degree of selerification of fiberond, cuticle, subepidermal layers, and bundle sheaths may be related to thatch accumulation.

Key Words: Fiberond • Cynodon • Zoysia • Agrostis • Poa • Stenotaphrum • Festuca • Digitaria • Major bundles • Minor bundles • Single ring • Multiple rings • Complex rings • Simple node • Compound node • Internode types

² Research Geneticists, Turfgrass Laboratory, Plant Genetics and Germplasm Institute, ARS, USDA. Beltsville, MD 20705.

Received for publication September 4, 1973.